Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-10-06

or ADVISE you, as i now feel IL my duty
to do. You will meet with many obsta-
cles in life's journey which will have to
be overcome, of courfs; how to meet and
overcome them rightly is most to be CON
sidered. John viii be kind and true to
you. I am certain of that; but I foresee
one trait that Will grow stronger as the
years go by, and that is love of money
and of broad fields. You know he inner
it's it from his father. Above all, don't
allow it to fret you, but meet it kindly,
yet firmly. Speak right out; don't wait
until he allows the habit to carry him too
far; remember that in all property mat
tiers your rights are equal
Elizabeth's face was wet with tears as
she cried: "Oh, mother, could do any
thing, everything, if you were here to
advise me; but without you what can
dor"
'My DEAR" replied Mrs. Gray, "you will
ind help. Whenever you are sad or
troubled sit down and think of me and
of the talks we have had together. If l
can I shall come back tc you. We can
not tell; do not feel that God will sepa-
rate US entirely"
Years passed. John and Elizabeth
were busy, happy and prosperous. There
WAS a Lizzie growing up to be a stately,
beautiful girl like her mother; Nell, a
younger sister, also John and a Paul.
Elizabeth was good manager and made
her home very attractive. Her table al
ways looked inviting and the children
were happy and respectful. John often
remarked that he did not see how she
could accomplish SO much and keep her
self SO young.
"Papa," said Lizzie one morning,
"when are you going to built the up
right? Mamma says when she came here
to live you thought that in five years you
would be out of debt and would build. /
am now fifteen and there are six of US
instead of two, and you have money in
the bank and are out of debt. II our
house could be completed would it not
be nice for Christmas?"
"Nsver mind, Lizzie" said her father,
81 have something else to do besides
building and furnishing rooms for COM
pany. A man who has family to sup
port has many ways for his money, and
can not think now of building"
John cast nervous glance at his wife
as he concluded his remark, for the sub
ject was by no means a new one, and had
already caused some quite serious talks
between them.
The child had spoken truly. Barns
had been built, the farm was we'll stocked,
and money was fast accommodating in the
bank. In vain Elizabeth had often said:
'Would it not be better to build and en-
Joy our home while we are all together?
After while the children will marry and
have homes of their own. and / want
them to remember this as the pleasantest
place in the world" She had not said
much of late, for whenever she spoke of
it the lines hardened about Johns mouth
and he would not be sociable again for a
whole day.
Early in August I went to spend the
day with her. She looked troubled, as
could plainly see, and finally she said:
"You remember what mother told me
about Johns acquisitiveness, and how
she admonished mo not to worry about it,
but to meet It's encrOachmentS with firm
ness? Well, haven't ooeyed her, at least
In the spirit, at all times, notwithstand ding
l have tried hard to do so. l have made
a careful estimate of our expenses and in
come and have decided that we can build
this fall as we'll as ever. For some time
past 1 have not had the courage to tell
John how l felt about it, but l have de.
oided to talk with him after dinner and
the matter must be settled can not en-
dure it any longer"
1t is part Of my creed never to inter
fore in family affairs. If people have
common regard for one another they will
come out ali right; if n OF any advice one
may give will do no good, while it usually
| leaves you with little less respect for
yourself, even though your motives have
been the best. So when Elizabeth spoke
of the matter / listened but made nc
comment. She understood my sympathy
was with her, but / was their mutual
| friend. Shs dressed with little more
care than usual, I noticed, although she
was always tastofulIy attired. She came
to dinner dressed in delicate gray cham
brey, linen collar fastened with cluster
of pink roses, q muslin apron trimmed
with lace, and John told her she looked
as sweer as pink. She always had q
| fine color, but 1T deepened at this compli-
| IA emit.
| was aware that John was bargaining
| for large tract of land just over the,ridge
| and after dinLer he put on his hat and re-
| marking that he might not be homo early
| having some business to attend to, started
out.
Elizabeth called to him saying, ssT wish
to speak with you, come back moment
He came in, sat down, and waited for his
wife to speak and finally said, what is it
Elizabeth.
swell John, it is this; I think we can
build the upright this fall as well as to
defer it longer. 1t is ell we need to make
US comfortable. The children'-here John
interrupted her by saying, THE child
| rem ace we'll enough off, and if you did
not mention the matter to them they
| would not give it a thought. To tell yeu
the truth Elizabeth I can't do it," "You
| may run the house," she smiled, but be
was too deeply engaged making out his
case to notice it, "you must not however
try to run everything. have to foot the
bills and must have my way"
why" said she, ''you have no debts to
pay and haven't you quite a bank ac-
COUNT" ''No, certainly don't owe any
| thing but Elizabeth, we may as we'll settle
this question now as ever and have it done
with. You have been good girl Che al
ways called her that and 1 am sorry to
have any words; but the money you refer
to is to be invested in land, that tract
over the ridge: you have often heard me
speak of it. In five years if we are pru-